In his dimly lit upper-eastside apartment R&B's next rising star, Gray, relaxes. After running in and out of recording studios for the past few days he's at home. In a calm, and surprisingly dull and monotone voice, Gray explains why he's an unsigned hype, and discusses some of his qualms with the R&B game.

When you first arrive, you get the feel of a homely music studio, but for all the musical magic flowing through the apartment, his mind, and the keyboard system placed next to the television, Gray has been working almost exclusively at Def Jam's recording studio where he's been belting his heart out at each visit to the legendary record label - pouring out smooth, but strong falsetto notes for everyone in the building to hear. The relationship between him and the label is strange at best: he is the only talent allowed to use their studios that hasn't signed an exclusive contract with the company. It can be taken as sign of respect for his abilities by label heads. Writing and producing his own songs, as well as playing the guitar and piano effortlessly, their respect for Gray is certainly well deserved.

"This is easy" Gray says, referring not only to making music, but getting into the industry. Born to an African American father who performed against the Jackson 5, and a Sicilian mother who was a songwriter, Gray, born Danny Grayson, talks with a convincing confidence that tells you nothing will stand in his way. "It just takes time. You have to wait your turn, and it's my turn, my chance to shine and create history. I feel like if it takes you ten years to get into this industry, and you haven't met the right people yet then you weren't meant to be here. I'm telling you, just wait and see... I am already a legend."

In that same confident tone he'll tell anyone in a heartbeat that he was born to sing. Singing before he could speak - according to his mother - Gray found his creative niche when he was in grade school. He reminisces on how he found the love of his life as a child. "The first time I knew I wanted to sing I was going to this bad ass [Catholic school called] St. Gregors, and I was in the chorus. We were singing 'Time After Time' by Cindy Lauper, and I just realized that I sounded better than other people around me. I was like this sounds good to me, I sound good to myself. I loved the sound of my own voice, and that's what did it for me."

With inspiration from his musical background, Gray is ready to make the R&B world pause - in time. Confidence intact, he would be the first to tell you that there are obstacles you must past before you reap your rewards. Gray has been through three different managers, and has had plenty of deals with A&R representative and labels. "I mean, if you have a deal with an A&R and he or she gets fired, no one knows you at that label anymore, its like 'who are you?' 'Who is this guy?' So I have been through a lot to know my time is now."

Gray bases his career on talent, not gimmicks. He's not here to dance for anyone's camera, or smile for the ladies. Instead, he aims to make music for men and women alike. He names a few who he feels drive within the lanes of mainstream music to safeguard their careers.

"All the Marques Houstons and Omarions and Chris Browns are just dancing, but no one is singing. Everyone is just dancing. Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway performed. I perform. What these artists are doing today is not performing. This industry has been turned into a dance contest. You hardly see unplugged shows like John Legend and Alicia Keys. I don't waste my time in the dance studio for 10 hours practicing. That's why when these artists get on stage they're lip-synching, because all they care about is the performance... But some of those performers fit that lane, that's what they're there for."

With all of Gray's confidence, he is still an unsigned excitement. Holding out on a deal that would give him a bigger percentage of album sales, he is readying himself to be in the game for the long run. In order to do that, however, he knows you have to adjust, and differentiate yourself from other artists.

Vol. 1 is a compilation of songs made to give fans a feel of what his first album will sound like. You would never guess that Gray's monotone speaking voice could switch up to let out the high octave chords and falsetto notes on tracks like 'Nothing Compares.' With a slow melodic start the ballad switches to a mid-tempo beat in the first verse. 'Gotta B You' is a 70s melody complimented with new age lyrics. He has something for every R&B parishioner, and for those who may be infants to the genre.

"I am different from these other R&B dudes out here, I can sing. All these dudes out here are dancing around, cooning for the media, and they say they make song for the ladies. I make songs for everyone. I have dudes who come up to me after shows and are like 'Yo, I am feelings your shit.' "

"Like my father said, I am the best of my father and mother. And it's just undeniable. I am a new and the old generation in one whole, and I can't wait to beast this industry..."